Getting rid of re-sprouting vine maple.

[John from Cle Elum]

I have about 10acres of forested land in Washington state in a somewhat fire prone area. I thinned the timber and removed the brush a few years back. I have gone back and removed the sprouting vine maple for the last two springs. It takes a lot of effort. There is other brush growing but it is not a difficult to remove as the maple. A couple of the neighbors have had parts of their properties masticated but it is expensive and only lasts for a couple of years. Is there a better way of controlling the growth? I am thinking some kind of specific herbicide that can be sprayed on the vine maple thickets.

Any ideas.
John

 

[slowp]

If I remember correctly, vine maple is hard to burn. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[BeatCJ]

I agree, it's a relatively good landscaping plant. Of course, when you say thickets, it is kind of a PITA. Would you replace it with something else, do you have management plans?

I have worked in that area on fires several times, and if you are working to protect a small parcel, standard defensible space practices will probably handle all of your needs.

If you really want to control it, I suspect that you could spray it with any common selective chemical in the spring, after it starts to regrow.